Absolute Loyalty

"Pierce!" I couldn't contain an annoyed growl as my sisters' shrill voice rang out followed by repeated knocks on my door.

She was the last person I wanted to see. Anytime she showed up at my door I knew it had something to do with the clan. Closing my eyes I tried to prepare myself mentally before starting for the door.

However, it wouldn't be in my sisters' character to hang back and wait for me to open the damned thing. That would be too much of a hassle for the Cat. Just as I raised my hand for the knob, the door was thrown open. Rolling my eyes I could only gesture her inside and shut the door behind her. "Sure, come on in Piper, no I don't mind. What a pleasant surprise." I spoke sarcastically under my breath growling at her unwelcomed intrusion. "You think next time you can wait until after I open the door to barge in?"

She turned on her heel to face me, arms crossing over her naked chest. "Maybe you should be quicker Pierce." I rolled my eyes at her hiss. She looked flushed from the run. Her brown hair that was cut into a bob, was messy from her shift and her eyes that were a striking green were narrowed with annoyance. She was petite but fierce and her presence commanded respect.

I felt my beast purr at his sister. It had been a few months since we last saw her and he was eager to reestablish familial bonds. I pushed him down, however, feeling her Jaguars anxiety wasn't helping. Piper growled and flashed me her teeth. I waved my hand at her, unintimidated by the small display giving her my own growl. She wasn't in the mood for our beasts little reunion, and neither was I.

"It's time to move. Clydes pack is being raided by Kain." It was like ice being poured down my back. The small growl I had been playfully throwing at my sister suddenly turned into a snarl.

My beast roared with rage.

Kain.

The male wolf was a stain to our clan. His father had destroyed our lands years ago, and ever since Kain took over the young Alpha had sent many spies into our new territory. The animosity only continued to mount between us over recent years. Even his future mate had attempted to walk into our territory but we turned her away swiftly.

The hatred our clan and his pack had for each other was one that would forever be passed down to the new generations. Years ago we had been forced out of our homeland. It had been a war, a very bloody war, one that our clan hadn't been prepared for, one that we were still recovering from. Kain's father, Thorn, had led the ambush and defeated us. We were violently pushed out and into Clyde's territory. A territory that ended up saving us.

At first, when we came into Clyde's lands, There had been a small battle but eventually both sides decided that a treaty would be more beneficial then to risk more casualties. Clydes pack hadn't been out for blood, the small battle had taken place more out of confusion for our unintentional trespassing than for territory and dominance.

Clyde had been kind. He had offered the treaty, one that we couldn't refuse, one that our Head had originally assumed was being drafted by Thorn before he had backstabbed us. Clyde offered us not just a treaty but a portion of his territory as well. He had been a blessing to us. The only expectation that was made was in return for the land we would fight and protect the pack in times of war, raid, and need. The treaty allowed us to live peacefully and harmoniously.

Unlike the pack from the North.

Thorn, had killed cubs, destroyed families and was merciless. Some of us lost everything, while others lost some.

Piper and I had lost our brother and mother.

I felt my beast stir with hatred and resentment at the thought of the lost family. He never got to meet the Jaguar that gave life to us. He never got to experience the bonds that beasts of our kind thrive on.

Even more though was my sister. I had been lucky to have experienced 5yrs with my mother and brother. Five years of life, five years of a mother, five years of an elder brother and a sane father.

My sister had only been a year old when the raid happened. Her memories would never hold the cherished moments that mine hung on.

I was thankful for her age at that time though. She had been too young to remember the wolves that struck our mother dead. Didn't witness our brother's demise as he tried to take us to safety or the absolute rage that overcame our distraught father when his bond severed with his mates' death.

The damage Thorn and his pack had dealt with our clan had been catastrophic. Kain was his fathers' son, and no good would come from a pack that killed young that was too small to even protect themselves. It wasn't just a war, it had been a massacre.

Our father, like many others that lost their mate, was the shell of the warrior he once was and has never been the same. He'd only spoken to Piper and me a handful of times, and his beast refused to share bonds with us. They were both still in mourning, and they would never escape it. It was just a waiting game until he lost himself to his beast and the grief they both shared.

17 years has passed since the attack, and we were just starting to find normalcy again as the cubs from that time slowly found mates. They were the new generation filling in the gaps of what the old one was robbed of.

I hadn't been lucky enough to have found my mate yet, and because of that, I was set up in a cabin just on the border of our territory and Clyde's. I was what the clan considered a first responder and was deployed first. I was specifically trained in stealth and solo battle. I preferred it this way, I didn't enjoy being near the clan, there were too many reminders.

I shook my head of the memories I had. Of nightmares, I lived with. Of resentment I held.

This news was like a trigger. My beast would gladly succumb to the deadly pull of revenge and I needed to rein him in. We needed to be level headed because there was an order to things.

My sisters' expression shifted from its stony one to one of concern. "Pierce, I think it's serious." I turned and made my way into my kitchen, knowing my sister would follow, and started to fill a kettle with water.

"How long until the pack arrives?" My words were devoid of emotion. I needed to separate my feelings. Emotions were only a nuisance in battle. I wouldn't allow personal feelings to get in the way of this mission. I needed to focus.

"He's already begun. Clyde has sent word, along with a plan." Placing the kettle on the lit stove I watched it until white smoke started to sprout, turning her words over in my head.

The crazy wolf had a plan? He had anticipated this? How long had he known this would happen?

"Fucking idiot dog." I bit back a growl. "His plan, do you know what it is?"

I heard Piper's loud sigh before she spoke, "He plans to run. His pack will be merged with Kain's and act as spies." My head snapped up at her words and I roared.

"Why? Is he a fucking idiot? Kain will start a manhunt for him on our lands!" I snarled at her, causing my sister to raise a delicate eyebrow at me.

"Don't ask me, Pierce. I'm just the messenger. The Head agreed with the mission and we are to just follow orders." She hissed at me and slammed her fist on the kitchen island's surface. She was upset about things too.

"They are all fucking stupid." My voice was strained with my anger as I tried to hold back from lashing out at Piper.

Taking a deep breath, I rolled my shoulders and clicked my teeth before refocusing on the task I was attempting to finish. Grabbing two cups I made my way around the kitchen, lost in thought.

If I wasn't supposed to be deployed to rescue Clyde, then what was my purpose? I clenched my teeth and shut my eyes tight. Anger and frustration.

"And what is it that I'm supposed to go and do? Fuck myself? Go fishing? Twiddle my thumbs like some mindless idiot?" I couldn't keep the agitation from escaping or my words from lashing out.

"Watch." Her voice was apprehensive as she spoke. Breathe, I needed to be calm around her, she witnessed too much anger growing up with the father we had. "Head wants you to watch, there is already a team retrieving Clyde, but there is an Omega that needs to be picked up." My head snapped up. "Supposedly he is the future for Clyde."

I blinked at her words.

An Omega?

My beast growled. He wasn't fond of the breed and the sudden information that the pack even had one was cause for annoyance.

We were never told that an Omega was in the pack. "Why didn't he escape with his Omega? This is sounding more like a pain in the ass babysitting job." I huffed and rubbed my temples. I didn't want to go and retrieve some tail-wagging Omega. They were a complicated breed, and I honestly didn't want to deal with one. A million cubs I could handle, but some prissy high-class spoilt Omega wasn't my forte.

Piper let out a sigh as she pushed the hot drink away from her. "There's a lot that we don't know and the elders said not to question it." She let a sigh out and looked me in the eyes. "Stay true to the clan Pierce." Piper looked around the kitchen before sighing and turning around. "Do your job. When the chance arises, get the dog. You'll bring him here and then I'll inform you of the next steps." I rolled my eyes at her back.

"Maybe I'll keep the fleabag for myself." I teased, trying to find some way to lighten the mood.

She froze and looked back, a deadly glare thrown at me. I smirked. "Touch the dog, and I can assure you I'll be the first to castrate you." Her hiss had me smiling, "Don't soil our family's memories by joking about mating some flea-ridden mutt." I couldn't help but laugh at the warning as she saw herself out.

"Wait for me to open the door next time you visit!" I yelled out to her just as the front door slammed shut.

Looking at my drink, I took a long sip. The pack had an Omega. Clyde was already mated but the Omega was the wolf's future?

I knew the workings of the pack we held peace with had skewed ideals. I wasn't naive to the rumors that the pack had swirling around them but they had never done anything to betray us so I knew we overlooked a lot of things.

Clyde and his pack welcomed our clan into their home and gave us a place to rebuild. We owed them more than just our lives, we owed them our loyalty. Even if their beliefs and customs were wrong we had to put that aside. Loyalty came first.

Drinking the hot tea I tried to prepare myself. My job wasn't to fight but to rescue the Omega and keep him here with me. Running a hand through my hair I let a sigh out and I finished my drink before making my way to the front door. I would have to keep a low profile if I needed to cross the border but I was stealthy and stalking was my specialty.

Reaching my arms above my head I started to stretch, I would stay in my beast until I obtained the mutt. Stripping myself of my clothes I opened the door then shifted before sprinting into the woods, towards Clydes' lands.

Loyalty.

I would follow my clans' wishes.

I would obey them and be loyal to the wolf. I owed him my life, I owed him my sisters life, I was indebted to him and I would never betray him. Clyde was every bit our savior and we would stay by his side and carry out any plans that he may have.

I followed the scent of blood, followed the howls that now filled the night sky. My beast purred at the scent of spilled wolf blood. It would be hard to keep the large beast from going after the wolves but the plan was simple:

Find the Omega and take him in until orders arrived on the next steps.

Absolute Loyalty to the pack.